Stern Drive Maneuvering - Regal 26 FASDECK Owner's Manual

STERN DRIVE MANEUVERING

Inboard/outboard, I/O or sometimes called stern drive
boats do not have rudders.
system that directs the propeller thrust, by turning
the stern drive unit where the propeller is mounted.
Normally maneuvering the I/O boat is easier than a
similar single screw vessel.
Directing propeller energy (thrust) makes slower speed
maneuvering easier.
turned from one side to the other which results in turning
forces. Rudder boats need water to ow by the rudder
to be e cient. Stern drive units are designed to have
reduced sha angle, so the propeller does not produce
as much unequal blade thrust and resistance as does a
propeller on a single screw boat. Large horsepower stern
drive boats do produce more thrust and steering torque
but your vessel has the advantage of power steering.
Below is some basic information on how single stern
drive boats handle in normal conditions.
GATHERING HEADWAY
When a stern drive is not moving forward or reverse
in the water and the propeller is not turning, (shi in
neutral) the boat will not react to the helm steering wheel.
As soon as the vessel is shi ed into forward gear the
propellers action creates a discharge motion and
generates energy in the form of thrust. If the stern drive
is centered, the discharge motion is directed straight back
causing the vessel to advance forward.
You may notice that if you advance the throttle quickly
in initial take-o (make sure you have a rm grip on the
wheel), the boat has a tendency to pull the stern of the
vessel to starboard.
e boat uses a steering
e propeller discharge current is
Vessel Operation
ere is a trim tab (also serves as a sacri cial anode)
located on the vertical drive housing just to the top of
the propeller blade.
the low speed steering torque. Once the boat increases
headway and the propeller is operating in a faster water
ow this torque e ect decreases.
Sometimes the trim tab may need adjustment on stern
drive models. Contact your Regal dealer for further
information or consult your engine manufacturer's
manual.
TURNING
Once the boat has gathered headway, with the boat
planing at the correct bow angle and the stern drive unit
and helm straight the boat tends to stay on a uniform
course heading. To assure the boat trim angle is correct
use the trim gauge as a guide while activating the trim
button on the remote control panel.
When the helm wheel is turned to the right or starboard,
the stern drive unit is turned in the same direction.
propeller's discharge force is directed to starboard forcing
the boats stern to port. Water owing past the hull strikes
the stern drive gear housing in its starboard side, creating
additional turning torque.
forcing the bow to starboard.
If the helm is turned to the le or port the stern drive
turns to port, the stern of the boat goes starboard as the
bow turns to port.
As the vessel operator gains experience, he will better
gauge each maneuver and speed situation. In this way
he will understand the handling characteristics of his
boat. He needs to keep the safety of his passengers in the
highest priority.
13
is trim tab helps compensate for
e stern starts a move to port,
e